Letters: SOHO and Balboa Park

In response to “SOHO sues city over Balboa Park plan” (Local reports, Aug. 14): As the organization that serves as the collective voice of the majority of Balboa Park institutions, the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership has been strongly supportive of the changes proposed by the Plaza de Panama project. We work in the park every day, and our organization and members all are working diligently to care for Balboa Park and its visitors. This project will not only make for a dramatically better park experience, but could serve as a catalyst for future investment in the park and the ability to address the needs in the park that have been put off for so many years.

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Unfortunately, SOHO’s [Save Our Heritage Organisation] lawsuit against the city of San Diego calls this into question. It is disappointing that a project that has gone through as much study and public vetting as the Plaza de Panama project now has to face yet another obstacle because of one special interest. I hope that this lawsuit is resolved quickly and we can get back to the business of making Balboa Park the best it can be. – Paige A. Simpson, interim executive director, Balboa Park Cultural Partnership

As a longtime member of SOHO, I have supported its efforts to educate people about historic preservation through home tours and operating local museums. But I and others think that SOHO goes to extremes when it tries to force its views on others by suing individual property owners or cities; saying that buildings – material things – are more important than people. Now SOHO is suing the city of San Diego, because the City Council chose what is best for Balboa Park visitors rather than a few feet of railing on a bridge abutment and the view from the far end of the dog park. Isn’t the view of historic buildings from the plazas, views that are currently marred by cars and parking lots, more important?

And what about people? Park visitors love the car-free plaza between the Museum of Natural History and the Science Museum – that’s where they congregate. Making the other plazas in the heart of Balboa Park car-free, too, will give people more park to enjoy.

I agree with the City Council; park visitors should be our highest priority. – Sharon Gehl, San Diego

I have been director of the San Diego Natural History Museum for more than 20 years, and have had the opportunity to participate in many planning processes for Balboa Park – the Balboa Park Master Plan, Central Mesa Precise Plan, Park Boulevard Promenade project, Jones & Jones study and finally the Plaza de Panama project.

Our institution – and the majority of institutions in the park – have been solidly behind the Plaza de Panama project because it will truly transform the park into a spectacular destination, and it balances this with maintaining access and increasing parking. It is the first time in many years that we have a real opportunity to accomplish what we have all been talking about for decades.

SOHO’s lawsuit against the project is certainly not surprising, but it is nonetheless maddening. SOHO claims that it is trying to “save” Balboa Park. From what? From beautiful plazas that can be better enjoyed by pedestrians? From more convenient visitor parking? From more than 6 acres of new parkland? From better access for the disabled? SOHO continually says that Balboa Park is the “people’s park.” It is correct. It is the people’s park – not SOHO’s park – and it is meant to be enjoyed by people and not dominated by traffic and parking.

After so many years of effort by dedicated park employees, volunteers, and others, it is time to move forward and return Balboa Park to its former splendor. – Michael W. Hager, president & CEO, San Diego Natural History Museum

I had hoped that SOHO would regroup and support the city and the community toward the implementation of the Jacobs plan for Balboa Park. After time and careful consideration, I did and understand that there is no silver bullet to solve the issues associated with the park’s health and the 2015 celebration. All the proposed solutions are complex, and everything associated with this beloved place is emotional. At this point, SOHO has turned divisive, and I need to respond to its recent lawsuit.

Claiming that the Jacobs Plan would be “the destruction of Balboa Park” is dramatically inaccurate. I have never understood how SOHO could base opposition to this plan on the loss of a view that no longer exists AND at the expense of wonderful improvements for pedestrians in the core of the park.

A lawsuit will only cost us money and jeopardize our celebration of the centennial. I urge the courts to throw out this lawsuit and let us move forward. – Amy Bridge, San Diego

The approval of the Plaza de Panama Project has been a long process; the plan has seen almost two years of public debate, independent research, independent studies, planning group after planning group, San Diego Planning Commission, and ultimately San Diego City Council. The plan has been reviewed by expert after expert. The public has had the chance to weigh in and voice their concerns for the plan. Changes have been made per public request despite false claims from opponents that it has not. The project has been approved by Planning Commission and City Council, yet SOHO has decided to delay the process even further by filing a lawsuit based on exaggerated claims and less-than-substantial evidence.

SOHO’s lawsuit to try and stop the Plaza de Panama Project is a giant waste of time and money for the taxpayers of San Diego and everyone involved. It’s time for us to move on and realize the benefits of the project – Balboa Park and the people of San Diego deserve to have their park space back! – B. Michael Seidel, San Diego

The city of San Diego is now on the cusp of continuing the spirited legacy of the founders of Balboa Park with the inception of the Plaza de Panama Project. This project has been through exceptional vetting, hundreds of hours of civic participation and detailed studies. Alternative plans were studied and the Plaza de Panama Project was determined to be the most doable, workable plan resolving problems of traffic flow within the park while preserving Balboa Park for future generations.

SOHO is doing Balboa Park no favor by filing a lawsuit. Bruce Coons [SOHO executive director] speciously claims citizens concerns and suggestions were ignored during the long and open vetting process. SOHO’s lawsuit is a delaying tactic, a costly attempt to pre-empt the democratic process. – Susan Schiffer, Bankers Hill